As she moves forward with her divorce, details onWendy Williams‘ split from her longtime love and managerKevin Hunter— who allegedlyfathered a childwith his mistress — are coming to light.
A source who has spent time with Williams since the breakup tells PEOPLE that the daytime host believes Hunter’s alleged affair has been going on for more than a decade. (The couple has been married for 21 years).
“It’s hard after being married for so long and having a family together, to be able to move forward,” adds the source of Williams, who shares son Kevin Jr., 19, with Hunter. “But she realized she had to open her eyes to a bad marriage. So many stick around when they should get out.”
Reps for Williams and Hunter did not immediately return PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Williamsfiled for divorcefrom Hunter last week after 21 years of marriage. Her personal rep issued a statement to PEOPLE, saying, “Thank you to everyone for respecting the family’s privacy during this time. Kevin is supportive of Wendy and they are working through this process together. No additional comment will be provided at this time.”
On Tuesday, Hunterbroke his silenceon the split in a statement to PEOPLE.
“28 years ago I met an amazing woman:Wendy Williams. At the time, I didn’t realize that she would not only become my wife, but would also change the face of entertainment and the world,” he said. “I have dedicated most of our lives to the business empire that isWendy WilliamsHunter, a person that I truly love and respect unconditionally.”
“I am not proud of my recent actions and take full accountability and apologize to my wife, my family and her amazing fans,” he continued. “I am going through a time of self-reflection and am trying to right some wrongs. No matter what the outcome is or what the future holds, we are still The Hunter Family and I will continue to work with and fully support my wife in this business and through any and all obstacles she may face living her new life of sobriety, while I also work on mine. I ask that you please give me and my family privacy as we heal. Thank you.”
It’s not the first time the couple hasweathered a cheating scandal: Hunter cheated on Williams after she gave birth to their son, a painful period she described in her 2004 memoirWendy’s Got the Heat.
“The split is definitely due to Kevin’s ongoing infidelity and that his mistress recently welcomed their child,” the source said. “Wendy had hired a private investigator and confronted him. He confessed to everything three weeks ago.”
“All of the recent drama put a huge strain on Wendy and caused her tostruggle with her sobrietyas she did everything she could to try and save their marriage,” the source continued.
“The decision to split was terribly hard for her, but she’s regaining her health,” the source added. “She decided she needed to finally put herself first.”
Jennifer Graylock/WireImage
The split comes at a challenging time for the star. After takingan extended hiatusfromTheWendy WilliamsShowfrom January to March, Williams, who has long been open about a past addiction to cocaine, revealed last month that she has beenliving in a sober house.
On Monday’s broadcast ofTheWendy WilliamsShow, Williams said she would “moving out of the sober house in just a few days” andalluded to her divorcewhile reflecting on the motto of her Hot Topics segment, “Their business is our business.”
“It’s crazy ’cause now my business is your business,” she said with a laugh. “It’s kind of funny. Turnabout’s a fair game, I get it.”
Williams vowed to continue being honest with her fans.
TheWendy WilliamsShowairs weekdays (check local listings).
source: people.com
